Tractor.



l. D. FLORY'.,

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.'B. |916. 4, 5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1. u. FLORY.

TRACTUR. APPLLCAHON FILED DEC. 8. 19N. 1,238,752. Pandsepn 4,1917.

5 SHEETS-SMU 3.

qw- 7% @55 d/f2@ am l. D. FLORY. TRACTOR. nmcmou man ofc. a. me.

Ptellbdspt. 4, 1917.

1 5 sains-SHEET 4 www. wir @en/mw l. D. FLORY.

TRACTOR.

Alrucmou FILED Dic. a. Isls.

Patentd Spt. 4, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

NVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY y -tractor or motor therewith2 I maitaininglthe tractor franmii substanvention is botte `.tlie other so as toA s srniss PATENT oiliiion.

.rasen n. riionr, or omits, omo.

TRACTOR.

1,233,752. mamon-.eftenanf. Patented sept. 4,1917.

appnmion nea recentere; isi. semi no. iufm. V

To all'whomfa't may concern.' 7 Fig. isa horisontallsectional view taken Be it known that L'Jnssn D. Figura' Vlon the hnei-i'inFig. 1. y citizen of the United Sta resi at' Fig. 5 is asection'al view taken on theline Camden, in the county of Pre le andf tate- 3. Y ,n A of Ohio, have invented new and useful Imr liig` 6 is-'a sectional view taken on the proven ts in Tractors, of which the 'fois imac-c in Fig. 3. lowingis a specication. 7 isa view taken on the saine lane This invention relates to tractors and-motor vehicles, and it has particular 'reference to automatic leveling devices forthe same. 4

The invention has for its ob]eot t0 pro-p duce simple and improved means whereb theground wheels at the two sides of the vehi le may be automatically adjusted by raising one and lowering preserve the vehicle frame or e frame in a level posit1on when traveling on a slanting road or on a hillside.

A further 'object of the invention is to Eroducesim le and eiective means wherey two wh or tractor frame may be. simultaneousl justed, one upwardly and the other ownto maintain the frame *structureV in e tially level con 'tiong the said means in g a constantly driven worm shaftJ oppositefworm `gears adapted .to and a Een ulum by the gravitaof w ich the constantly driven will be placed in lengagement wege/wf /therehy tional action wormshaft 4with one or the other of said when a 'de is encoun tiallvylevel condition. y

ith these andv other ends in view -which will readily appear as th i rund V, thesamecon' -sists in the im 'rovedconstruction and novel ment whichY will-be hereinafter fully desci'i ind particularly pointed out the/.'laims-/l In the accompanying drawings has illustrated a sim le and preferred ,form of the linvention, it howeverfunderstood that no limitation is necessarily made to the recise structural details therein exhibited,

ut that ch alterations and mo cations within e' scope of the claims may be resorted. to'when desired.

Inthe drawings,-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a tractor frame to which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a top p an view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

at opposite sides of a motor 'by an e nature of .the inY -A-,provided with al and combination of parts the frnotioii' F1 .--8 is'al view'palrtly in elevation and par in transversesection throu h the tractor frame illustrating a m ,form of the invention. s

Fig. 49 is a sectional `view taken on the'line 9-9inFig.8. Fig. Lilie a transverse sectional detail ew of the'machini` illustr modiied construction of the mec actuating the wheel carrying arms o tractor.

F` 11 is a plan view of the parts illusshaft/16 which is to receive motion 4 `mail) 0f n :c from t. motori conyentionally indicated at M./P1'votallyl mounted 1 for rotation about theaxis" of. tre cpunter'shaft 16 are crank arms 17,` each of whiclihas a segmental face p glld'fl'ib 18 011'.; En arcuate. 'guide 1ily`enthe tractor 'e, and whereby tlieank armis reinforced and thereof Steadied. Each crank igcrries a spindle20 on which a ground mounted for rrotation, said ground wheel having been shown ,as v'being equipped ,with a spur wheelg221fnounted on the spokes thereof and meshing' with a pinion'23 on the coii/iiteshatf 16, whereby the ground wheel is driven, it being obvious that the ground wheel being supported for movement'in an arc concentric with the axis of theeounte shaft,` transmission of motion from the counter shaft to the ground wheel will take lace in any position to which the und w eel may be adjusted relatively to t e tractor frame.

24 designates a segment rack which is supported for rocking movement about s n axis 25 with which the segment rack is 4 12 is a detail 'side view of oneof the whrts. carrying crank arms and related Pa L j Corresondin parts in the several iig-4 unes are enote hy like of refer- The tractf'rame 1li/supports a counter concentric. The segment rack is provided with terminal arms 26 which are connected by links 27 with the crank arms 17 at the two sides of the tractor frame, the said links being connected with the crank arms by means of knuckles 28 that enable the links to adapt themselves to the respective movements of the rocking segment and the crank arms, said movcmeits being in planes substantially at right angles to each other. Similar knuckles may be used for connecting the links 27 with the arms 26 of the rocking segment. It will be obvious that by the rocking movement of the segment 24 the ground wheels at the two sides of the tractor will be moved oppositely with respect to the tractor frame, one being moved upwardly, while the other is moved downwardly, thus enablin said ground wheels to be adapted for'trave' on a side hill without disturbing the level of the tractor frame.

The se ent rack 24 meshes with and 1s actuated im a worm 29 non a shaft 30 which is mounte for rotation adjacent to the rack, said shaft carrying a worm gear 31 and a sprocket wheel 32. A counter shaft 33 sugported in spaced relation and parallel to't shaft 30 carries a worm gear 34 and a sprocket wheel 35, said worm gear and sprocket wheel being disposed in the respective planes of the worm gear 31 and the sprocket wheel 32 previously described, and a chain 36 being trained over the sprocket wheels 32, 35 whereby, when one of the worm gears is driven, motion will be transmitted to its mate through the sprocket -wheels and chain, (see Fig. 5).

A-.shaft 37 having a worm 38 is supported for rocking movement by a bearin member 37*` pivoted at 37b-intermediate' t e worm ggars 31, 34, thepositi n of the worm shaft ng normally neutra betweenthe worm gears, but so contrived that-by a sligharockmg movement of the shaft the worm thereon in a reverse direction to that imparted by the worm carrying shaft 29 through the transmission means including the sprocket wheels 32, 35 and the chain 36.

The free end of the worm shaft 37 is provided with a culi 40 which is connected by oppositely disposed toggles 41 with fixed points such as brackets 42 on the machine frame, the toggles being so arranged that b proper movement thereof the end of the siaft engaging the cuil will be rocked to place the worm 38 in mesh with one or the other of the wormgears. This movement may be accomplished by means of a yoke C ivotally supported on trunnions 43 and aving oppositely beveled alms or limbs 44 that wipe the toggles 41 so that by rocking movement of the yoke the toggles will be actuated to impart rocking movement to the worm shaft 37. The yoke C has a third arm 45 which is connected by a suitable transmission including a connecting rod 46 with a pendulum 47 which is suspended for swingm movement in a convenient position interme iate the side members of the engine frame, preferably midwa between said side members, said pendulum eing arranged for swinging movement transversely of the frame. Y

It is obvious that when aside hill is 'encountered by the tractor, the Vtractor frame will be tilted. When this occurs the pendulum, the tendency of which is to gravitationally maintain a vertical position, will throu h the intermediate connections a uate t e toggles 41, thereby swinging the worm shaft 27 into mesh with oneor the other of the worm gears 31 and 34, according to the direction in which the tractor.J frame is tilted. The .worm ear meshin with the worm shaft 37 A' be rota thereby,F transmittingmotion`to the worm 'shaft '30, thereby` actuating the rocking segment 24, actuating the crank arms carrying may be placed in mesh with one or the other the ground wheels, thereby hmovingI the of the worm gears. stantly driven by a suitable transmission from the motor M when the machine is in operation, a universal joint J being included in the transmission to enable the shaft to have the necessary freedom of rocking movement. It is also obvious that the bearings for the shaft 37 are to be so contrived as to permit such rocking movement to take place. The extent of said rocking movement need only be sufficient to enable the shaft to assume a neutral position between the worm gears or to mesh with either one of said gears. It will be readily understood that when the worm gear 31 is engaged and driven b v the worm shaft, motion will be transmitted directly to the worm carrying shaft 29 whereby the segment 24 is rocked; should the worm gear 34 be engaged by the worm shaft:Y 37, motion will bc transmitted e Vshaft 37 is cbn` ound wheel at the ldw side of the tractor rame downward and the ground wheel at the high side of the tractor frame upward, until t e level condition ofthe tractor frame is restored, when, by the gravitational action ofthe pendulum, the worm s'haft 37 will be thrown out of mesh and restored to a neutral position.

To prevent undue strain upon and injury to the parts of the device, I employ a safety device consisting of a rod 48 extending transversely through the pendulum and having stops 49 adapted for engagement with opposite sides of said p en'dulum. The safety rod 48 i's connected by means including a bell crank 50 with one of the links 27 whereby the crank arm 17 at one side of the frame is connected with the rockin segment 24. The parts are so arranged an proportioned that when the crank arm actuated by the :naves pendulum will again gravitate in the proper' direction to set the parts in motion so as to restore the parts to their initial position when the tractor frame assumes a level position.

v It ma at times be desirable to tilt Vthe tractor rame to one side or the other for the purpose of avoiding obstacles in the path of the frame' of the machine, such" as the limbs of trees and the like. When this is desired the pendulum may be actuated to swing it in either direction by means of v'a hand lever 51 having suitab e connection with the connecting rod ,46, and thereby with the pendulum. For the purpose of preventing undue swinging, movement of the pendulum when the machine is traveling over rough roads, a spring latch 52 is provided, the same having a beveled projection 53 en aging a recess 54 in the top of the pendu um, the spring latch being s0 tensioned that while it will be sufficient to restrain the pendulum from undue swinging movement, it will not interfere with the legitimate swinging movement of said pendulum when a s1de hill is encountered.

In Fi a slight modified form of the invention under w ich the worm shaft 37 and the worm gears and sprocket wheels coperating therewith, instead of being disposed in a substantially vertical plane, as in the pre` ceding figures, have been shown as being mounted in a substantially horizontal plane. In this modified form a supportin plate 55 is provided, the. same having anges 56 which are bolted or otherwise secured on the side members of the tractor frame 15. Adjacent to the to corners of the supporting plate 55 are ulcrumed bell cranks D, D', one of which, D, has a rack segment 24 connected therewith, said rack segment meshing with a worm 29 on a vertlcally disposed shaft 30. Each of the bell cranks D and D has an upwardly extending arm 57, said arms bein connected together by a link rod 58 where y the bell cranks will be actuated in unison. Each bell crank also has a laterally extending arm 59 with which the upper end of a link 37 is connected, the lower end of said link being connected in the manner previously described with one of the crank arms 17. The vertically disposed shaft 30 carries a worm gear 31 and a sprocket wheel 32. A counter shaft 33 8 and 9 there has been illustrated c carries a worm gear 34 and a sprocket wheel 35', a chain 36 being trained over the sprocket wheels 32 and 35. The worm gears 31', 34 and the sprocket wheels 32', 35 are horizontally disposed, and supported for roclng movement between the worm gears is a constantly driven shaft 37 carrymg a worm 38 which normally occupies a neutral position, but which by rockin movement of the shaft 37 may be placed 1n mesh with eitherone of the worm gears. The rock shaft 37 is actuated by means of a pendulum and intermediate connections in precisely the same manner and with the same results as the worm carrying shaft 37 which has been previously described iny connection with Figs. '1 to 7, inclusive.

In the foregoing description, reference has been made to only one ground wheel at each side of the tractor frame, and it may here be stated that the invention is thoroughly well adapted to two wheeled tractors, means of this type being frequently employed for the purpose of operating agricultural machines of various kinds, such as cultivators and the like, where it is essential that the machine shall be capable of making short' turns at the end of a row of plants. A machine of this type equipped with my invention will be found particularly useful for operating in fields that are located on side hills. It 1s to be understood, however, that no limitation is made in the application of the present invention to two wheeled tractors, since it is obvious that by equipping a four wheeled tractor with cranks to carry each of the ground wheels, and by making suitable connections between the front and rear cranks, the present invention may be equally well applied to a tractor having four or more wheels. It is not deemed necessary, however, to particularly describe or illustrate such application, since nothing would be involved therein or in the construction thereof beyond the skill of an ordinary mechanic to produce.

A further modification of the invention, which is illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, has for its object to simpllfy the means for transmission of motion from the worm carrying shaft 30 to the wheel carrying cranks or arms. By this modication, said arms, which are here designated by 17', are provided at their free arcuate ends with teeth 70. Said teeth mesh with pinions 71 carried by shafts 72 which are mounted in the frame in longitudinal axial alinement, each of said shafts carrying at its inner end a bevel gear 73. A shaft 74 which is supported for ro tation in a plane at right angles'to the shafts 72 carries a bevel pinion 75 meshing with the two bevel gears 73, and the shaft 74 also carries a wormV gear 76 meshin with the worm 29 of the shaft 30, said shaft 30 being mounted and actuated in a manner precisely similar to that previously shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 9, inelusive, of the drawings. This mode of transmission, while more simple, less exensive, and occupying less room than the orms of transmission heretofore shown and described, will be found to be thoroughly useful and practicable under many condltions.

The improved device herein described is sim le in construction, capable of being rea ily applied to and installed upon tractors of various kinds and type, and by the use thereof the objectionable tilting of the tractor frame on a hillside or on a slanting road will be entirely avoided, thus also avoiding the danger of skidding or upsetting. The principle of the invention is equally applicable to motor vehlcles of various kinds.

Havin thus described the invention, what is claime as new, is

1. A tractor frame, ground wheel carrying cranks at opposite sides thereof, motor driven means for actuating the cranks at the two sides of the tractor frame simultane ouslyin opposite directions, and means 1ncluding a pendulum for governing the mo- .tion and the direction of movement of said actuating means.

2. A tractor frame, ground wheels at opposite sides of said frame, means for supporting the ground wheels for vertical movement relatively to the frame, motor driven means for simultaneously moving the ground wheels at the two sides of the frame vertically in opposite directions, and means including a endulum for governing the motion and t e direction'of movement of said motor driven means.

3. A tractor frame, ground wheels at the two sides thereof supported for vertical movement relatively to` the frame, motor driven means including a segment rack and a worm meshin therewith to effect vertical adjustment of t e ground wheels and to secure the same in adjusted position relatively to the frame, and means includin a penduluni for governing the motion an the direction of movement of the worm shaft meshing with the segment rack.

' 4. A tractor frame, ground wheel carrying cranks supported pivotally at opposite sides thereof, a rack segment supported for rocking movement of the frame and having laterall extending arms, link rods and lmuc les connecting said arms with the wheel carrying cranks, a shaft having a worm meshing with the rack segment, a counter shaft supported in parallel relation thereto, mating worm gears and sprocket wheels on the worm carrying shaft and the counter shaft, a chain trained over the sprocket wheels, a swingingly supported constantly driven worm shaft intermediate the gear wheels, and means for swinging the last mentioned worm shaft in engagement with either one of the worm gears.

5. A tractor frame, ground wheel carrying cranks supported pivotally at opposite sides thereof, a rack segment supported for rocking movement of the frame and having laterally `extending arms, link rods and knuckles connecting said arms with the wheel carrying cranks, a shaft having a worm meshing with the rack se ment, a counter shaft supported in parall relation thereto, mating worm gears and sprocket wheels on the worm carrying shaft and the counter shaft, a chain trained yover the sprocket wheels, a swingingly supported onstantly driven worin shaft intermediat the gear wheels, and means for swinging the last mentioned worm shaft in engagement with either one of the worm gears, saidmeans including a pendulum supported for sui'ii'iging movement transversely with respect to the tractor frame, and suitable connections.

6. A tractor frame, cranks supported pivotally at the two sides thereof, ground wheels carried .by said cranks, means for svnultan'eously actuating the ground wheel carrying cranks in opposite directions, said means including a rockingly supported rack segment and suitable connections, a shaft having a worm mesh' g with the rack segment, means for driving the worm carrying shaft for reverse rotation thereof, said means including two worm gears, means for transmitting motion between said worm gears and a motor driven worm shaft swingingly supported between the two worm gears, and means including a transversely swinging pendulum for swing' g the worm shaft from neutral position into mesh with one of the worm gears, and vice versa.

y 7. A tractor frame, a motor driven counter shaft thereon, cranks supported at the two sides of the tractor frame for rotation .about the axis of the counter shaft, ground ter shaft thereon, cranks supported at the two sides of the tractor frame for rotation about the axis of the counter shaft, ground wheels carried by said cranks, intermeshing gear wheels on the counter shaft and on the ground wheels, and means for swinging the cranks in opposite directions to effect vertively to the tractor frame,

iop

tical adjustment of the ground wheels relasaid means including a pair of worm gears, a constantly driven worm shaft swingingly supported therebetween, and a transversely swinging pendulum and connecting means for moving the worm shaft from neutral into mesh with one of the worm gears.

9. A tractor having ground Wheels suported for vertical movement with respect to the tractor frame, motor driven means for effecting adjustment simultaneously in opposite directions of the ground wheels at the two sides of. the tractor frame, and means for starting and stopping and for governing the direction of rotation of the motor driven means.

10. A tractor having ground wheels supported for vertical movement with respect to 'the tractor frame, motor driven means for y effecting adjustment simultaneously in o two sides 'for starting and stopping and for governing `direction of rotation of the motor posite directions of the ground wheels at t e two sides of the tractor frame, and means for starting and stopping and for governing the direction of rotation of the motor driven means, said means including a pendulum supported for transverse swinging move- `ment and whereby the starting, sto ping and direction of rotation of the motor riven means are automatically governed.

11. A tractor having ground wheels supported for vertical movement with respect to the tractor frame, motor driven means for eiecting adjustment simultaneously in opposite directions of the ground wheels at the of the tractor frame, and means the direction of rotation of the motor driven means, said means including a pendulum supported for transverse swinging movement and whereby the starting, stoppin and dgriven means are automatically governed;`in combination with a safety device whereby the pendulum will be automatically moved in the direction of its initial osition when the movement of the wheel adjusting means exceeds a predetermined limit.

12. A tractor having ground wheels supported for vertical movement with respect to the tractor frame, motor driven means for effecting adjustment simultaneously in opposite directions of the ground wheels at the two sides of the tractor frame, and means for starting and stopping and for governing the direction of rotation of the motor driven means, said means including a pendulum supported for transverse swinging movement and whereby the starting, sto ping and direction of rotation of the motor iven means are automatically governediin combination with a safety rod extending through the pendulum and having stops at opposite sides thereof, and a connection between the safety rod and the wheel adjusting means,

to the tractor frame, motor whereby thependulum will be moved in the direction of its initial ostion when the movement of said adjusting means ex a predetermined limit. j

13. A tractor having ground wheels supported for vertical movement with respect to the tractor frame, motor driven `means for effecting adjustment simultaneousl in opposite directions of the ground whee s at the two sides of the tractor frame, and means for starting and stopping andfor governing the direction of rotation of the motor drivenY means, said means including a endulum supported fortransverse swinging movement and whereby the starting, stoppin and direction of rotation of the motor riven means are automatically' governed; in combination with a spring late engaging the pendulum to restrain swinging movement thereof.

14. A tractor having ground wheels supported for vertical movement with respect driven means for eectn adjustment simultaneously in opposite irections of the ground wheelsat the two sides of the tractor frame, and means for starting and stoppin and for governin the direction of rotation ofthe motor driven means, said means' including a pendulum supported for transverse swinging movement and whereby; the starting, stoppin and direction of rotation of the motor riven means are automatically governed; in combination with a spring latch engaging the pendulum to restrain swinging movement thereof, said pendulum having a recess therein, ands'aid spring latch having a beveled projection engaging said re- .Y

15. A tractor frame, ground wheels at' the two sides thereof supported for vertical movement relativel to the frame, motor driven means inclu ing a segment rack and a worm meshing therewith adjustment of the ground wheels and tesecure the same in adjusted position relatively to the frame, means including a-pendulum for governin the motion in the direction of movement o the Vworm shaft meshin with the segment rack, and mea s where y the pendulummay be positively actuated inde-A pendcntly of the gravitational movement thereof.

16. A tractor frame, ground wheels at the two sides thereof supported for vertical movement relative] to the frame, motor driven means inclu ing a segment rack andf a worm meshing therewith to effect vertical adjustment of the ground wheels and to secure the same in adjusted osition relatively to the frame, means inc uditi a pendulum for governing the motion an the direction of movement of the worm shaft meshing with the segment rack, and ahand lever and suitable connections whereby the to eifect verticalA v pendulum may be positively actuated independently of the gravitatlonalmovement thereof. 1

17. A tractor frame, ground `wheel carry: ingmembers at opposite sides thereof, motor driven means for actuatin the wheel carrying members at the two sides of the ;tr'actor frame -in opposite directions, and means including a endulum'fr'governing the motion and e direction of movement of said actuating means. 4

18. Atratornme, ground wheel carrying' members.' at' op 'te sides thereof, motorldrivenfmeans QI: actuating the wheel carrying members ath the two sides of the tractor rame simultaneously in o posite directio` means including a pen ulum for governing the motion and the direction of movement of said acguating means, and

copie a: tu pmu my t obtained m ave nu mn, byaammng the Washington, D. 0.

means whereby the pendulum may bepositively actuated independently of the gravitational movement thereof.

19. A tractor frame, ground wheel carrying members at opposite sides thereof, motor driven means for actuating the wheel carrying members at the two sides of the tractor frame simultaneously in opposite di- Arections, means including a pendulum for JESSE D. FLoRY.

Commissioner of PaTntl., 

